(June 20, 2018) US CONGRESSMAN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION CALLING FOR US-TAIWAN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND END TO ONE CHINA POLICY

US CONGRESSMAN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION CALLING FOR US-TAIWAN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND END TO ONE CHINA POLICY

On Wednesday, June 20, United States Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), introduced a resolution (HCR124) in the U.S. House of Representatives, calling on the United States government to resume diplomatic relations with Taiwan and to abolish the U.S. One China Policy.

Rep. Rohrabacher is a longtime supporter of Taiwan and a founding co-chairman of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus.

The resolution concludes that: “(1) the President should abandon the fundamentally flawed ‘‘One China Policy’’ in favor of a more realistic ‘‘One China, One Taiwan Policy’’ that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country, separate from the Communist regime in China;

(2) the President should begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan;

(3) the President, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, and other relevant United States officials should aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations and any other international organization of which the United States is a member, and for which statehood is a requirement for membership.”

Of the five countries in the world that the United States government currently does not diplomatically recognize (Syria, Iran, North Korea, Bhutan and Taiwan), Taiwan is the only full-fledged democracy.

Similar resolutions were introduced in 2005 by former Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), on 2007 and in 2009 by former Congressman John Linder (R-GA), and in 2012 and 2013 by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX).

Furthermore, the resolution affirms that the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances form the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations and establishes “the reality that Taiwan has functioned as an independent and sovereign country for over half a century.”

In a Commentary piece in the Wall Street Journal of January 17, 2016, current National Security Adviser John Bolton wrote: “The new U.S. administration could start with receiving Taiwanese diplomats officially at the State Department; upgrading the status of U.S. representation in Taipei from a private “institute” to an official diplomatic mission; inviting Taiwan’s president to travel officially to America; allowing the most senior U.S. officials to visit Taiwan to transact government business; and ultimately restoring full diplomatic recognition.”

FAPA President Mike Kuo states: “The Taiwanese people brought about their momentous transition to democracy some thirty years ago, but US policy did not adapt to that new reality. By normalizing relations with Taiwan, the United States would set a shining example for other countries to emulate.”

Dr. Kuo concludes: “The resolution also reflects the growing sense within the U.S. Congress that the United States “One China Policy” is more and more untenable, as it is out of touch with the unmistakable reality that Taiwan is a free and democratic nation that deserves to be accepted as a full and equal member in the international community. The time is now to move towards a more realistic and practical ‘One China, One Taiwan’ policy.”

Mr. ROHRABACHER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and for other purposes.

Whereas the people of Taiwan have established a vibrant and pluralistic democracy;

Whereas the people of Taiwan have conducted six successful presidential elections, successive elections for members of their national legislature, numerous local elections, and two national referendums;

Whereas Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the Communist government in Beijing, which continues to illegitimately claim sovereignty over Taiwan and its 23,500,000 citizens;

Whereas the Shanghai Communique, which maintains that there is ‘‘One China’’ and that ‘‘Taiwan is part of China’’, was established without the consultation of Congress or the people of Taiwan;

Whereas Communist China has since used the ‘‘One China Policy’’ to block Taiwan’s membership and full participation in international organizations and events, ranging from the United Nations and the World Health Organization to the Olympics;

Whereas the ‘‘One China Policy’’ is effectively obsolete, and does not reflect the obvious reality that Taiwan has been an independent and sovereign country for over half a century;

Whereas Taiwan maintains diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations with several countries around the world; Whereas Taiwan and the United States maintained formal diplomatic relations until 1979;

Whereas today, the United States maintains diplomatic relations with all countries in the world, except for Syria, North Korea, Iran, Bhutan, and Taiwan;

Whereas former President Jimmy Carter severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979 and terminated the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and Taiwan without consulting or seeking the approval of Congress;

Whereas Congress responded later that year by adopting the Taiwan Relations Act, codifying into law the basis for continued friendly relations between the United States and Taiwan;

Whereas former President Ronald Reagan issued the ‘‘Six Assurances’’ to Taiwan in July 1982, including the assurance that ‘‘[t]he United States would not formally recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan’’;

Whereas both the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8, 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and the Six Assurances form the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations; and

Whereas Taiwan has been a steadfast ally of the United States and a responsible and compassionate member of the world community: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the President should abandon the fundamentally flawed ‘‘One China Policy’’ in favor of a more realistic ‘‘One China, One Taiwan Policy’’ that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country, separate from the Communist regime in China;

(2) the President should begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; and

(3) the President, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, and other relevant United States officials should aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations and any other international organization of which the United States is a member, and for which statehood is a requirement for membership.

(June 20, 2018) US CONGRESSMAN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION CALLING FOR US-TAIWAN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AND END TO ONE CHINA POLICY